Hermione as mirror of Snape

[marinafrants]

No: HPFGUIDX 38845

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., "porphyria_ash" <porphyria at m...> wrote:
> Fleur has written:
> <<
> What got me started on this was reading Snape's introductory 
speach 
> in PS/SS. I had read it loads of times but never really analysed 
it. 
> When I got to 'even stopper death' I realised the speach could be 
> read as a kind of Voldemorts wish list! 
> >>
> 
> It is true that his list is of sweepingly power-hungry and self-
> serving uses for potions, but having taught school myself, I'd 
really 
> like to add that you shouldn't judge someone entirely based on the 
> spiel they give on the first day of class. :-) Snape is being 
> dramatic here, he's trying to engage the class's interest; 

And I think it's important to remember here that half the class are 
Slytherins. :-)  We don't know what kind of introductory spiel Snape 
gives to the Hufflepuff-Ravenclaw group.

> <<
> he hasn't even loyalty to Dumbledore, we see this when Draco asks 
him 
> if he will go for the position of headmaster in COS when 
Dumbledore 
> is removed. He smirks and looks very pleased at this and takes no 
> oppirtunity to defend Dumbledore, can you imagine what loyal 
Hermione 
> would do in this position?
> >>
> 
> Here I don't see where you're getting this. I always interpreted 
this 
> scene as an indication of how loyal Snape really is to Dumbledore. 
> His answer to Draco is at worst cagey, but smirking aside, what he 
> actually says is "Now, now, Malfoy...Professor Dumbledore has only 
> been suspended by the governors. I daresay he'll be back with us 
soon 
> enough." How on earth is that disloyal? That's pretty supportive. 

When I was rereading CoS after having read all four books, I was 
struck by how nicely Snape juggles appearance and reality in that 
scene.  His words are supportive, but he delivers in a manner that 
makes everyone who's listening believe that he's only faking 
loyalty; except he's not faking, he really is loyal -- but he can't 
afford to let Malfoy know this.  It's quite well-played, really.  
Makes it easier to believe that he once made a successful spy.

> <<
> Hermione could easily be Snapes best student, she is
> top of practically every other class she is in, but
> instead he hates her from first meeting, branding her
> a know it all, and why does he hate her? because she
> is everything he will never be. 
> >>
> 
> Do you really think this is why he hates her? I've made long 
> arguments in the past as to exactly how and why I think she annoys 
> him, but I just don't see that he envies her a whole lot.

Also, the conversation between Lucius and Draco in CoS indicates 
that Hermione *is* Snape's best student.  He hates her, but still 
gives her a higher grade than he gives Draco.  In fact, while Snape 
is always insulting and belittling the Gryffindors, he has never 
flunked one, not even Neville, and there's no evidence that he 
grades unfairly.

(Interesting throaway bit at the end of PoA -- Harry discovers that 
he passed Potions, and immediately assumes that Dumbledore must've 
stepped in to keep Snape from flunking him on purpose.  There isn't 
a single shred of external evidence to support this assumption, and 
I've always filed it away as just another (minor) example of Harry 
misjudging Snape.)

Marina
rusalka at ix.netcom.com